PG&E asks people to exercise caution when decorating for holidays

LAKE COUNTY -- PG&E urged residents to keep safety in mind as they decorate their homes, businesses and trees for the holidays in the coming weeks.

An estimated 400 home fires involving Christmas trees or holiday lights occur each year in the United States, resulting in 21 deaths and $25.2 million in direct property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Fire Administration.

PG&E offered several safety tips for holiday lighting to reduce the risk of fire and injury.

People should follow manufacturers' instructions, check all light strands for broken plugs or bare wires, route cords inside their home in a way that avoids tripping hazards and always turn off lights when leaving the home and before going to bed.

Decorators need to "look up and live," according to PG&E. They should always remain at least 10 feet away from all overhead power lines.

Before stringing lights on outdoor trees, residents should ensure that tree limbs haven't grown into or near power lines. Branches, entire trees or the ground adjacent to a tree can become energized when trees contact power lines.

People should make sure lights hung outside the home are approved for outdoor use, and they should never place Christmas trees near a heat source such as a fireplace or heating vent.

Using LED lights can greatly reduce safety risks because they are shatterproof, shock resistant and produce almost no heat.